Camping On The Current

[jah]

My wife and I are coming dowm next Saturday to fish Sat evening to Sunday in the Tan Vat or Baptist area. My question is this: can we camp on the gravel bar at either place (i.e. the swimming hole at Tan Vat or the Bluff hole at the parking lot of Baptist?) Or do we have to wade downstream and find a different gravel bar while leaving our car in the parking lot? We aren't renting a canoe. I was also thinking the sharp bend of the river below the cable crossing below Montauk. Are any of these spots okay to camp at?

[jdmidwest]

Typically, there is no camping at either spot. At Baptist, there is a little access road on the left across from where the trailer drop lot is that leads 1/4 mile down river to a good spot. Not any place to camp along the river from the park to Baptist, the gravel bars are grown up.

[Gavin]

No camping at Tan Vat or Baptist....but you could camp above or below Baptist...take the trail out of the gravel parking lot upstream of the main access, or look for the two road markers just up the hill opposite the gravel lot, hike down there and camp...its about a half mile down to a couple nice gravel bars...I'd probably opt for Eagles Park or Ozark Mountain Ranch instead...Stayed at Ozark Mountain Ranch with a bunch last weekend and we had a great time.

Gavin

[Guest]

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[joeD]

Depends on how much gear you're bringing. If you have a lot and want to be comfortable, go to the aforementioned campgrounds. If you're backpacking light and fast, go to the river. The farther from a public access the better.